F1 News - Formula 1: US, Mexican & Brazilian races will not go ahead in 2020
https://ift.tt/2WSlnrd Formula 1 has abandoned hope of holding the US, Mexican and Brazilian Grands Prix this year as a result of the coronavirus situation in the Americas. The three countries have among the worst infection rates in the world and F1 bosses therefore believe it would be irresponsible to hold races there. Instead, three further races in Europe are to be added to the calendar. These will see a return for Germany's Nurburgring and Imola in Italy, and an F1 debut for Portugal's Portimao track. The US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, had been due to be held on 23 October, with the Mexican race in Mexico City a week later and Brazil on 13 November. But with infections soaring in all three countries, F1 officials have accepted that it will be impossible to hold the races. Any hopes of reviving the Canadian race, originally scheduled for June and postponed in April, have also been abandoned. The coronavirus has a much lower prevalence in Canada, but the country has local restrictions and travel rules that make impossible to hold a race. The grand prix at the Nurburgring, which last hosted a race in 2013, is expected to be held on 11 October, when it will be vulnerable to bad weather. The date is the latest in the year a grand prix has ever been held on the historic track in the Eifel mountains, where snow has been known to fall even in the summer, and certainly cannot be ruled out in October. Portimao, on the Algarve, would follow on 25 October, with Imola on 1 November. Imola has long, historic connections with F1. It replaced Monza as the home of the Italian Grand Prix in 1980 and had a permanent home on the calendar as the San Marino Grand Prix from 1981 to 2006. It is also notorious as the track on which Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger were killed on consecutive days in 1994. F1 still does not have a full calendar, but remains hopeful of being able to have at least 16 races this year. The additional three races at the Nurburgring, Portimao and Imola will take the calendar to 13, and the season is expected to conclude with two races in Bahrain and one in Abu Dhabi in November and December. In addition, F1 is working on holding one or two races in Asia in early to mid-November. The new street circuit in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, which had been due to make its debut as an F1 venue in April, is almost certain to hold a race, and there is a possibility of a return to Malaysia's Sepang track, which held a grand prix from 1999-2017. #F1 via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6 July 24, 2020 at 05:30AM
Motorcycle News - Harley-Davidson Files Patent for New V-Twin Engine with VVT
https://ift.tt/3fYLwwi Harley-Davidson has filed a patent for a new engine design that uses variable valve timing. Officially, the patent is not specifically for a VVT system but rather for a modular engine balancer that mounts on either side of a crankshaft. The patent does however describe how the VVT phase timing is incorporated into the balancer module. The patent uses a rough drawing of a Fat Bob, but only as a general example of a motorcycle. The engine details, however, show clear differences from existing Harley-Davidson engines. The new engine design still uses overhead valves, but with pushrods running on opposite sides of each cylinder, which matches a design in a separate patent we uncovered last August. Both patents were originally filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in early 2019, with Harley-Davidson engineer Johann Voges as the only credited inventor, making it likely they’re for the same engine. The drawings show air-cooling fins, though the fins have uneven contours, curving in and out at at different spots around the cylinder. There’s also no oil filter at the front of the engine. It’s difficult to get a sense of proportion in these patent illustrations, but it’s possible we’re looking at the replacement for the ancient Sportster engine. The key to this patent is the engine balance module (#74 in the diagrams and shown in exploded view below). The crankshaft is connected to gear #154 which rotates cam gear #158. The cam gear is connected to a second, smaller toothed gear #170 which rotates a chain (#178). The chain in turn spins a balancer sprocket which rotates a balance weight (#86) around the crankshaft in the opposite direction of the crank’s rotation to counteract the reciprocating motion of the pistons. A variable valve timing unit (#98) connected to the cam gear adjusts the timing of the cams, affecting the timing of both the intake and exhaust valves relative to the crankshaft. Generally speaking, adjusting the intake timing can optimize power and torque delivery at higher or lower revs, but the likely goal for Harley-Davidson is to reduce emissions. As it stands Harley-Davidson’s existing engines, the Sportster line-up especially, will not meet Euro 5 standards, meaning they will no longer be allowed in Europe by the end of the year. Several manufacturers have asked for the deadline to be extended due to delays caused by the pandemic, which may give Harley some breathing room if the new engine is not yet ready. The post Harley-Davidson Files Patent for New V-Twin Engine with VVT appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO July 23, 2020 at 05:05PM
Motorcycle News - Electric Motorcycles: 5 Myths You Shouldn’t Believe
https://ift.tt/2WPkWxM As electric vehicles (EVs) become more mainstream thanks to the automotive industry, we see more and more information swirling around the internet. Unfortunately, not all of that information is up to date or correct at all. With battery tech improving drastically over the past decade, it can be hard to keep up with the current facts. Additionally, with so much information available, it can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff to discern what’s true and what isn’t. To help spread awareness in that regard, Motorcycle.com has decided to focus on dispelling five5 myths you shouldn’t believe about electric motorcycles. Electric motorcycles are only good for commutersIt’s true. Electric motorcycles (EMs) are great for commuters. Riding a motorcycle to work not only makes the commute more enjoyable, but in places that allow lanesplitting, it can be much faster. That’s not to say electric motorcycles aren’t any good for every other type of riding as well. The instantaneous torque is exhilarating in a way that’s unique to EMs, which makes for a lot of fun on twisty canyon roads. It’s easy enough to ride out to your favorite mountain lunch spot, plug in for an hour or so while having lunch and chatting with friends, and head back out as Evans illustrated in his Energica Esse Esse 9 review. Even touring has become a more viable option as charging stations become more prevalent. Harley-Davidson just shared a story with us in which a rider celebrated his 50th birthday riding his Livewire over 1,400 miles from the United States’ southern border to the northern border in Washington state. Sure, it still takes planning to enjoy electric motorcycles in a way that takes you out of the urban sprawl, but the versatility of EMs is ever-increasing. Electric motorcycles take too long to recoup costWith all things comparable, it’s easy to see how a motorcycle with an internal combustion motor versus an electric motor stacks up regarding cost. As the miles pack on, traditional gas motorcycles require more routine maintenance. While oil changes are relatively easy and don’t come around too often (depending on your riding habits), bigger maintenance jobs come further down the line such as valve checks. Zero Motorcycles portrays this fact in a graph on the “advantages” page of its website. As the miles rack up, the costs of an ICE motorcycle start to ramp up at a more significant rate than electric motorcycles. While EMs also show increased cost with increased mileage, the curve is much less pronounced. At the end of the day, how much you ride and which motorcycle you choose to purchase will play a large role in this comparison. Are the batteries built to last?Battery technology is always changing. Even within the last 10 years we’ve seen both battery capacity and reliability improve drastically. Most electric motorcycle manufacturers offer warranties that cover the motorcycle’s battery from three to five years. Additionally, manufacturers are continuously improving ways to ensure batteries remain operating at the optimal performance level as long as possible. Energica claims its current batteries will last between 149,000 to 249,000 miles before exhibiting a loss in performance. Some manufacturers such as Zero Motorcycles also have “hot-swappable” batteries allowing users to pull a few bolts and toss in a brand new battery. We should mention that while this is currently an option, extra batteries are not cheap. There aren’t enough chargers availableAs acceptance of electric vehicles becomes more prevalent, companies and manufacturers alike are investing in creating significant networks of charging stations at all levels. The image above shows the current map of chargers from Electrify America, one of the largest open DC Fast Charging networks in the United States. The company plans to install or have under development, approximately 800 total charging stations with about 3,500 chargers by December 2021. “Our 50kW to 350kW chargers will be available at charging stations near highways, and 50kW to 150kW chargers will be available in metropolitan areas,” says Electrify America. While companies like Electrify America focus on building DC/Level 3 charging stations along highways, there are still a growing number of level 1 and level 2 charging stations in urban settings. This is an important point to consider when purchasing an electric motorcycle. Currently, Energica is the only brand that supports all three levels of charging. But what about the range?Range has been the number one point of contention for electric vehicles from the beginning. As mentioned previously, battery tech has, and continues, to improve rapidly. Electric motorcycle manufacturers are now claiming city ranges up to 250 miles with highway claims over 100 miles. While that may not sound like much to some, on average, that gives the majority of Americans ample range for commuting. For longer trips, yes, there still needs to be a plan in place to ensure you don’t run out of juice, but EM manufacturers are also attempting to make it as painless as possible to schedule trips via apps that locate charging stations in your area or along your route. Become a Motorcycle.com insider. Get the latest motorcycle news first by subscribing to our newsletter here.
The post Electric Motorcycles: 5 Myths You Shouldn’t Believe appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO July 23, 2020 at 03:39PM 7/23/2020 Miller: Claims MotoGP title illegitimate without Marquez are "complete crock" - MotoGP News
MotoGP News - Miller: Claims MotoGP title illegitimate without Marquez are "complete crock"
https://ift.tt/3jv1ArE Jack Miller says claims that a MotoGP title win against an injured Marc Marquez would be illegitimate are a "complete crock" as all riders "have the opportunity to get injured". Reigning world champion Marquez broke his right arm in a heavy crash in last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix and had been set to miss this weekend's Andalusian GP at Jerez following surgery on Tuesday. However, he has been declared fit after confirming his intentions to make a sensational return. In the immediate aftermath of Marquez's incident, Honda team boss Alberto Puig courted controversy when he said a rider benefitting from Marquez's injury to win the title couldn't be "completely satisfied". PLUS: Why Marquez isn't Vinales' main threat in MotoGP this year Puig has since insisted his comments were taken out of turn, and said they came from his own experiences of winning the 1995 Spanish GP at Jerez after reigning champion Mick Doohan crashed out. "Obviously, whoever wins the championship will be the just winner and deserve it," Puig said on Thursday. "But my opinion, and I know what I am talking about, is that when you win but the champion is not on the track you always have something left inside. "I will set my example: I won a race here in 1995, and I've always wondered if I would have won it if Mick Doohan hadn't fallen. "The same would not have happened. That is what I meant. Because the champion, without Marc, will always have that in his head." When asked about Puig's original quotes, however, Miller felt the opinion was not "valid". "I've heard two people say now two questions about the validity of the championship, and it's a complete crock," he said. "We all started on Friday or Wednesday 100% fit. One guy gets injured, doesn't matter. "We all get injured. I mean they keep bringing it up, that's not valid. "We all have the opportunity to get injured and it's the risk you take." Autosport asked the current top three in the standings - Fabio Quartararo, Maverick Vinales and Andrea Dovizioso - for their takes on the claims, but they steered clear. Dovizioso said: "This championship is a bit different and the rules are the same for everybody. "We have to try to win in 12 races. Marc, it looks like he will be on track, so nothing changes." Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei July 23, 2020 at 11:35AM
MotoGP News - Binder learned MotoGP riders aren't "superheroes" they seem
https://ift.tt/2Bt4VGC Brad Binder learned in his debut MotoGP race last weekend at Jerez that premier class riders aren't the "superheroes" they seem and now believes he "deserves to be here". KTM rider Binder finished his debut race 13th, though displayed podium pace after running off track in the early stages out of the top 10 and have to recover from last. Later admitting his mistake likely cost him a shot at a top five finish, Binder found the riders around him to be "human" and not the "superheroes" they appeared to be when he was climbing up the grand prix ladder. As a result, he says is "a lot more chilled" ahead of this weekend's Andalusian Grand Prix. "The biggest thing I learned is that these MotoGP riders are all human," Binder said on Thursday at Jerez. "They're not these superheroes you might think they are when they are coming through the ranks. "It's great because I see that I got the feeling that I can do a good job here and I deserve to be here. "So I feel this weekend a lot more chilled and I'm looking forward to getting started." After his strong debut, Binder said he was unlikely to go too deep into changing his KTM's set-up - though is looking to be able to pick the bike up earlier coming out of corners. "I feel the bike is working really well at this stage, I know where I need to improve as a rider," he added. "It's definitely that exit of the corners onto the straight. I feel I'm doing a really good job on corner entry, especially getting it stopped. "But I'm lacking a little bit in this ability to pick up the bike as quick as possible and use the power. "So that's what I want to work on, and if I get that right I reckon we can be doing a good job." Binder's start in last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix made a bit of MotoGP history, as he became the first South African rider to start a premier class race since Shane Norval in the 2000 Catalan GP. Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei July 23, 2020 at 10:10AM
Motorcycle News - Test Post: Kindly Ignore
https://ift.tt/3jxpoev Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. The post Test Post: Kindly Ignore appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO July 23, 2020 at 09:13AM
MotoGP News - MotoGP makes yellow flag rules change for Andalusian Grand Prix
https://ift.tt/39tb5TB MotoGP has made a change to its yellow flag rules ahead of this weekend's Andalusian Grand Prix following last week's Spanish GP. In FP3 on Saturday morning, Marc Marquez had a run-in with Alex Rins in the closing stages at Turn 3 and 4 after the Honda rider lifted off on the racing line while Rins was on a flying lap. The incident was investigated, but Marquez was cleared of any wrongdoing as he was reacting to yellow flags in the sector for Iker Lecuona's crash at Turn 2. In qualifying, several riders - including poleman Fabio Quartararo - improved on their laptimes right at the end of the session despite crashes for Jack Miller and Rins at the fast Turn 11 right-hander. This prompted a discussion over yellow flags to emerge again, with Petronas SRT's Franco Morbidelli confirming a meeting was held on Thursday where it was decided that the yellow flag rule needed altering. From now on, a rider must slow regardless of whether a single or double waved yellow flag is being waved in a sector or face a penalty. Commenting on the rule change, Morbidelli said: "The briefing was about increasing the safety. "So the board decided to clarify and increase the rules on the yellow flags. "So, from now on, when we see a single or double yellow flag - it doesn't matter - we will have to slow down. "I agree with this rule because it increases the safety. This is what the thing will be from now on for practice and for qualifying, and for racing it's going to be the same as it always has been." He added: "Yes [Race Direction will monitor sector times]. You need to slow down, and they will check the sector times. "And if you improve you will get a penalty, so this is the rule now." It is unclear what the penalty for failing to slow for yellow flags will be, though likely a grid drop for the race. Explaining the FP3 incident further following qualifying last week, Marquez suggested the blame laid with Rins as the Honda rider "didn't expect" anyone to still be on a lap at that point. Aprilia's Bradley Smith also felt there was a "question mark" over who should have been on pole last week after the late improvements while yellow flags were out at Turn 11. Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei July 23, 2020 at 09:27AM
Motorcycle News - Ovrlandr – Combustion Industries XL1200R
https://ift.tt/2BodjHg Two things we don’t feature on this website all that often are Harley Davidsons and Scramblers. Well, today we’re bucking that trend. This Harley XL1200R, post-apocalyptic styled scrambler is the work of Michael Bates from Stillwater, Minnesota. Why break tradition for something so radically different? Quite simply because we admire what Michael has done. You see he could have just built another cookie-cutter custom and got himself plenty of praise. He’s certainly got the skill to do it. But instead, he’s gone and built a motorcycle that will polarise opinions. It’s a ballsy move which has no doubt resulted in a lot of negative feedback from the keyboard warriors that lurk on social media. Personally, I applaud builds like this. They encourage progression within the custom scene and get people talking. What I like most about Michael’s XL1200R ‘Ovrlandr’ though is that it makes me grin. Motorcycles via Return of the Cafe Racers https://ift.tt/2M9riRb July 23, 2020 at 08:44AM 7/23/2020 Marquez to sit out Friday running at MotoGP Andalusia after Honda "compromise" - MotoGP News
MotoGP News - Marquez to sit out Friday running at MotoGP Andalusia after Honda "compromise"
https://ift.tt/3hrEHn9 Honda has confirmed that Marc Marquez will sit out this Friday's MotoGP Andalusian Grand Prix running as he continues to recover from a broken right arm. Marquez crashed heavily in last Sunday's Spanish GP while recovering from a spectacular off on lap five while leading. The Honda rider broke his right humerus bone and underwent surgery in Barcelona on Tuesday to have a plate and screws fitted, before returning to Jerez to attempt a sensational comeback. Having been passed fit by circuit doctors earlier this afternoon, Honda team boss Alberto Puig has confirmed the plans was always for Marquez to sit out Friday's running to minimize the risk of another crash having already had four days of running at Jerez last week. Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Puig said: "If it was a new track, it would be difficult. "But we have been here, testing for four days and racing. So the set-up of the bike he knows, he knows exactly how to ride the bike at this track. "So there's no meaning to try on Friday and give more stress to the injury. "So he will try on Saturday and we will see. But it was very important for Honda to also respect the rider's wish. "So, we found this compromise and we will see what is the result on Saturday." Puig says Marquez expressed a desire to race almost immediately after the operation having felt better than expected and reached the compromise with Marquez that he would try on Saturday to assess himself. "Nobody expected to see him here," Puig added. "When the accident happened, we were worried and of course we had to move to Barcelona for the surgery. "The surgery went spectacularly well, we didn't expect. We know the doctor is good, but it was a fantastic job. "And after surgery, the rider started to feel very well, so he started to contact us, [he said] 'I'm not so bad, I feel well, I'm not having so much pain, I can move the arm'. "The nerve situation was, as the doctor informed us, OK. "So, originally, Honda's position was to cancel this race and to try at Brno. "But after what we saw of Marc's wish, after what the doctor said today, we came to an understanding that he will try on Saturday and depending on his he is feeling he will try the race. "But we asked him to check on Saturday first if he is capable of doing the distance to see if it's risky or not." Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei July 23, 2020 at 08:30AM
MotoGP News - Espargaro: MotoGP medical checks good enough to ensure rider safety
https://ift.tt/3f0CSMw Aleix Espargaro believes the advancements MotoGP has made in its fitness checks is good enough to allow injured riders to decide it is safe enough for them to return. The Spanish Grand Prix weekend saw three riders suffer big injuries, with LCR's Cal Crutchlow fracturing his left wrist in warm-up, Suzuki's Alex Rins fracturing and dislocating his left shoulder in qualifying and Marc Marquez breaking his right arm in the race. Crutchlow and Marquez had surgery on their injuries on Tuesday and have since been passed fit to ride, while Rins began his rehabilitation immediately. Marquez's decision to return has drawn some criticism, with some believing the decision should be taken more out of a rider's hands than what it currently is. While Espargaro does agree with this, he also insists MotoGP's doctors wouldn't pass riders if they didn't believe their injuries weren't a hazard on track. "The good thing is that in the last three, four, maybe five years, we improved a lot the medical part of the championship," Espargaro said on Thursday ahead of the Andalusian Grand Prix at Jerez. "We have very good doctors, we have very good tests. So, I believe the test we need to pass through after an injury is enough to ride because [Angel] Charte and [Xavier] Mir are unbelievably good doctors. "So, if they allow us to ride it means we are capable to ride the MotoGP bike. "I remember last season, when I had the crash in Barcelona with Bradley [Smith], my knee was... I couldn't even walk and I jumped on the bike at Assen and I suffered a lot in the race. "But I was there [at the race]. So Marc will try this weekend, with Rins and Cal, but I believe the medical check is enough for them and also the rest of the riders to be safe when riding together." Commenting further on Marquez being declared fit, the Aprilia rider said it shows just how passionate riders are about racing. "This is just another example of how the riders are, how we love this sport," he added. "It's not just a job, it's also our passion. So I'm sure everybody on the grid will try as hard as Marc [to come back from injury]. "Marc is very good physically, he trains a lot his muscle. So he can compensate a little bit. "Also Alex Rins will try, and also Cal - the injury of Cal was a very hard one because we use a lot [the wrist], so for him it will also be a very demanding weekend. "I think this sport is unbelievable and it's just one more example." Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei July 23, 2020 at 08:16AM |
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